Blue Ridge School is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former headmaster Dr. Edward M. McFarlane after a courageous battle with cancer. The entire BRS community sends its heartfelt condolences to his wife Nancy, his daughter Amy and his son Todd ’86. Ed’s relationship with the School began in 1985 when he and Nancy followed Todd to the campus after Ed took a sabbatical from Davis and Elkins College. Ed’s impact on the School over the next decade and a half in several vital roles would be immeasurable.
In the beginning, Ed oversaw faculty workshops and seminars in exchange for room and board. He soon became a classroom teacher and assistant varsity basketball coach. After Todd graduated in 1986, Ed and Nancy returned to Davis and Elkins so that Ed could fulfill the terms of his sabbatical leave. Blue Ridge had grown on Ed and Nancy, though. In 1988, Ed returned to St. George to serve as the School’s Director of Development.
When Blue Ridge found itself in need of a new headmaster in January 1992, the Board of Trustees first named Ed the interim. After a national search for a new headmaster, it became clear to the Trustees that the person they were looking for was already in place. Ed served as headmaster of Blue Ridge School from 1992 until his retirement in 2000.
Ed may have officially retired, but unofficially he remained involved with the School as a consultant to faculty members and the headmasters who followed him. Because of his impressive accomplishments in his various roles for the School, he was recently named Faculty Emeritus. Ed is one of only ten educators in the School’s 108-year existence to be given this recognition and one of only two Headmasters to be so honored.
But what is most remarkable about Ed is how universally well-liked and respected he was. He served the School always with a smile on his face and with a caring heart for each individual. Those stories will be told soon in a future publication.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BRS Annual Fund’s Williams-McFarlane Endowment.
